The Babie
The Babie
Original Text
The American Anthology, ed. Edmund Clarence Stedman
(Boston and New York: Houghton, Mifflin, 1901): 296. PS 586 S74 Robarts Library
2 Nae stockin’ on her feet;
3Her supple ankles white as snaw,
4 Or early blossoms sweet.
5Her simple dress o’ sprinkled pink,
6 Her double, dimplit chin,
7Her puckered lips, and baumy mou’,
8 With na ane tooth within.
9Her een sae like her mither’s een,
10 Twa gentle, liquid things;
11Her face is like an angel’s face:
12 We ’re glad she has nae wings.
13She is the buddin’ of our luve,
16 ’T wad be nae blessin’ thus.
18 An’ see Him in the given;
19An’ sae she ’ll lead us up to Him,
20 Our babie straight frae Heaven.
Notes
1] Scottish dialect: ‘No shoes to hide her tiny toes.’ Back to Line
14] gied: gave. Back to Line
15] maun: must; owre: over. Back to Line
17] mair: more. Back to Line
RPO poem Editors
Ian Lancashire
RPO Edition
2004
Rhyme
Form